Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alexia Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Alexia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Our mission is to provide a safe space for people in recovery from substance abuse disorder and or mental health challenges to maintain their wellness through the arts so that they may reach their fullest potential

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am most proud of using what could have killed me to bring life and hope to others. As a person in long-term recovery from substance use disorder and mental health challenges, it has become my mission to help others reach their fullest potential. My journey to wellness began with becoming a mother, and the vehicle for my recovery has been dance and artistic expression through various modalities.

Initially, I had to find myself and learn how to love myself so that the healing could begin. The words to express my understanding of self and my innermost feelings were hard to come by. But through artistic expression, I was able to dig deep beneath the trauma and find refuge, community, healing, and most importantly, a connection with God.

As I embraced the road to recovery, a community emerged around this practice. I came to understand the power of connection, art, and healing. This realization solidified my life’s passion: to support others in their recovery by creating a space where healing can begin.

I am most proud of this work because living my recovery out loud has not been easy due to the stigma attached to addiction. My organization offers a safe space for people to rediscover themselves and take pride in their resilience, courage, and recovery.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Our most effective way to foster a recovery community, which has been thriving for six years, is to live our recovery out loud. We do this by advocating through the arts, sharing our stories candidly, and reflecting the power of recovery. Our goal is to connect, build community, and create opportunities for recovery to be evident in our lives. This approach attracts individuals who need support due to active addiction and family members who have lost loved ones to addiction or mental health challenges. Our door is a revolving door because recovery is a lifelong journey. People gain their wellness, return to maintain it, and bring others along to recover as well. This is our strategy for building and sustaining community

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

COVID-19 exacerbated addiction and mental health challenges, leading to increased isolation, loss of life, a surge in overdoses, and a rise in suicides. In response, R2ISE had to pivot and create virtual opportunities for connection. We hosted poetry cafes, virtual art exhibits, group meetings with artistic expression, and one-on-one peer coaching for additional support.

In this pivot, our community grew beyond our local reach and expanded globally. Peers from all over the world joined us, fostering connections that transcended borders. This shift also opened new avenues to share our lived experiences and learn from other communities about their approaches to supporting people in recovery.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.r2isetheatre.org
• Instagram: @R2ISE
• Facebook: @R2ISE
• Linkedin: Alexia Jones
• Youtube: R2ISE